Friday, July 28, 2017

Is Marwin a Luhnow Guy?

47 players appeared in a Major-League game for the 2011 Astros. Only Jose Altuve is left, signed by Tim Purpura in March 2007. And yes, Ed Wade gets unjustly slandered from time to time - he drafted Dallas Keuchel, George Springer, Jason Castro, and J.D. Martinez. And I'm sort of obsessed with the team that has become the Luhnow Guys. One player who causes division in the mortal historical struggle between Ed Wade and Jeff Luhnow is Marwin Gonzalez.

Very Good Play-by-Play Guy Robert Ford started it:

Jeff Luhnow's first move as #Astros GM was to recommend selection of Gonzalez in the 2012 Rule 5 Draft. Wasn't on Astros' radar previously. https://t.co/pQSV4ZVPRk

*December 8, 2011: Rule 5 draft. The Astros selected Rhiner Cruz from the Mets. Boston selected Marwin Gonzalez from the Cubs and immediately traded him to Houston for Marco Duarte, whom the Astros had just selected from the Rockies in the minor-league portion of the Rule 5 draft. So this would indicate that Marwin is a Luhnow Guy, right? I mean, Luhnow had been GM of the Astros for all of 24 hours and was "in charge."

Not so fast my friend. In the original article on the day's Rule 5 wheeling-and-dealing, Steve Campbell wrote:

"[Rhiner Cruz has] a chance to pitch at the back end of a bullpen," said Astros assistant general manager David Gottfried, who ran the Rule 5 draft instead of new GM Jeff Luhnow.

Gottfried had been with the Astros for 13 years at that point and had been the Assistant GM of Player Relations since 2006. When Ed Wade was fired in November 2011, Gottfried became the interim GM. The Astros did not renew his contract following the 2012 season.

Ford would later tweet that the Marwin/Duarte trade was pre-arranged, as is common in Rule 5 drafts. So our options are:
a) Gottfried and Heck ran the Rule 5 draft and swung the deal for Marwin on Luhnow's first full day.
b) Luhnow suggested the trade to Gottfried and Heck, and they figured it wasn't worth pissing off the New Boss not to do it.
c) All three conspired to make a trade for a Rule 5 pick that would pay off five and a half years later at precisely the time the Astros needed it most.

Got some DMs out to settle this once and for all. This will be updated.

No comments:

About Astros County

Established in 2008, Astros County is your friendly neighborhood blog & grill. We are the Protectors of the Legacy of Dickie Thon, Defenders of the Honor of J.R. Richard, and Anti-American League. Orlando Palmeiro Was Safe.